Biosynthesis and Metabolic Fate of Phenylalanine in Conifers

The amino acid phenylalanine (Phe) is a critical metabolic node that plays an essential role in the interconnection between primary and secondary metabolism in plants. Phe is used as a protein building block but it is also as a precursor for numerous plant compounds that are crucial for plant reprod...

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Main Authors:	Pascual, María B., El-Azaz, Jorge, de la Torre, Fernando N., Cañas, Rafael A., Avila, Concepción, Cánovas, Francisco M.
Format:	Online
Language:	English
Published:	Frontiers Media S.A. 2016
Online Access:	https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4942462/

id	pubmed-4942462
recordtype	oai_dc
spelling	pubmed-49424622016-07-27 Biosynthesis and Metabolic Fate of Phenylalanine in Conifers Pascual, María B. El-Azaz, Jorge de la Torre, Fernando N. Cañas, Rafael A. Avila, Concepción Cánovas, Francisco M. Plant Science The amino acid phenylalanine (Phe) is a critical metabolic node that plays an essential role in the interconnection between primary and secondary metabolism in plants. Phe is used as a protein building block but it is also as a precursor for numerous plant compounds that are crucial for plant reproduction, growth, development, and defense against different types of stresses. The metabolism of Phe plays a central role in the channeling of carbon from photosynthesis to the biosynthesis of phenylpropanoids. The study of this metabolic pathway is particularly relevant in trees, which divert large amounts of carbon into the biosynthesis of Phe-derived compounds, particularly lignin, an important constituent of wood. The trunks of trees are metabolic sinks that consume a considerable percentage of carbon and energy from photosynthesis, and carbon is finally immobilized in wood. This paper reviews recent advances in the biosynthesis and metabolic utilization of Phe in conifer trees. Two alternative routes have been identified: the ancient phenylpyruvate pathway that is present in microorganisms, and the arogenate pathway that possibly evolved later during plant evolution. Additionally, an efficient nitrogen recycling mechanism is required to maintain sustained growth during xylem formation. The relevance of phenylalanine metabolic pathways in wood formation, the biotic interactions, and ultraviolet protection is discussed. The genetic manipulation and transcriptional regulation of the pathways are also outlined. Frontiers Media S.A. 2016-07-13 /pmc/articles/PMC4942462/ /pubmed/27468292 http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2016.01030 Text en Copyright © 2016 Pascual, El-Azaz, de la Torre, Cañas, Avila and Cánovas. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
repository_type	Open Access Journal
institution_category	Foreign Institution
institution	US National Center for Biotechnology Information
building	NCBI PubMed
collection	Online Access
language	English
format	Online
author	Pascual, María B. El-Azaz, Jorge de la Torre, Fernando N. Cañas, Rafael A. Avila, Concepción Cánovas, Francisco M.
spellingShingle	Pascual, María B. El-Azaz, Jorge de la Torre, Fernando N. Cañas, Rafael A. Avila, Concepción Cánovas, Francisco M. Biosynthesis and Metabolic Fate of Phenylalanine in Conifers
author_facet	Pascual, María B. El-Azaz, Jorge de la Torre, Fernando N. Cañas, Rafael A. Avila, Concepción Cánovas, Francisco M.
author_sort	Pascual, María B.
title	Biosynthesis and Metabolic Fate of Phenylalanine in Conifers
title_short	Biosynthesis and Metabolic Fate of Phenylalanine in Conifers
title_full	Biosynthesis and Metabolic Fate of Phenylalanine in Conifers
title_fullStr	Biosynthesis and Metabolic Fate of Phenylalanine in Conifers
title_full_unstemmed	Biosynthesis and Metabolic Fate of Phenylalanine in Conifers
title_sort	biosynthesis and metabolic fate of phenylalanine in conifers
description	The amino acid phenylalanine (Phe) is a critical metabolic node that plays an essential role in the interconnection between primary and secondary metabolism in plants. Phe is used as a protein building block but it is also as a precursor for numerous plant compounds that are crucial for plant reproduction, growth, development, and defense against different types of stresses. The metabolism of Phe plays a central role in the channeling of carbon from photosynthesis to the biosynthesis of phenylpropanoids. The study of this metabolic pathway is particularly relevant in trees, which divert large amounts of carbon into the biosynthesis of Phe-derived compounds, particularly lignin, an important constituent of wood. The trunks of trees are metabolic sinks that consume a considerable percentage of carbon and energy from photosynthesis, and carbon is finally immobilized in wood. This paper reviews recent advances in the biosynthesis and metabolic utilization of Phe in conifer trees. Two alternative routes have been identified: the ancient phenylpyruvate pathway that is present in microorganisms, and the arogenate pathway that possibly evolved later during plant evolution. Additionally, an efficient nitrogen recycling mechanism is required to maintain sustained growth during xylem formation. The relevance of phenylalanine metabolic pathways in wood formation, the biotic interactions, and ultraviolet protection is discussed. The genetic manipulation and transcriptional regulation of the pathways are also outlined.
publisher	Frontiers Media S.A.
publishDate	2016
url	https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4942462/
_version_	1613608071350714368

Biosynthesis and Metabolic Fate of Phenylalanine in Conifers

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